A compound microscope is a delicate optical instrument consisting of two-lens system (eye piece and objective lens) that magnifies the minute transparent or translucent objects manifold in two steps and enables us to study their minute details. This two- fold magnification is the principle behind the working of the compound microscope. The compound monocular microscope consists of many parts, which are assembled to either mechanical parts or optical parts.

Machanical Parts of a Compound Microscope:

1. Foot: it is usually a horse- shoe shaped lowermost part. It supports the weight of the microscop.

2. Pillar: It is a small vertical stand attached to the base. It supports the movable parts.

3. Inclination joint: It is a pivot between the pillar and the arm. It permits the tilting of the upper part of the compound microscope at various angles.

4. Arm: It is a curved part of a microscope and its lower end is attached to the pillar and the upper end is joined to the body tube. It is used for handling.

5. Condenser: It is a circular chamber with lens system, present below the stage that can be raised or lowered. It is used to concentrate the light rays.

6. Iris diaphragm: It is a circular piece with a knob below the condenser. The left and right movements of the knob control the amount of light entering into the microscope on the object.

7. Stage: It is usually a rectangular platform having a circular hole in the center to allow the light to pass through. It is used for keeping an object to be magnified.

8. Clip: There are two clips attached to the stage, one on each side. These are used for holding the glass slide onto the stage firmly.
Optical parts of a Compound Microscope

About the Author

By Unknown on 2:27 AM. Filed under Biology . Follow any responses to the RSS 2.0. Leave a response